EU Referendum: Webchat with Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, Tuesday 21 June at 10.30am

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello

We’re pleased to announce a webchat with Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, on Tuesday 21 June at 10.30am. Ms Sturgeon is campaigning for the UK to remain in the EU.

As well as being First Minister since 2014, Nicola is also the leader of the Scottish National Party. Before entering politics she was a solicitor, and she represents the Glasgow Southside constituency in the Scottish Parliament.

The EU referendum will be held on 23 June.

Please do join the chat on Tuesday, or if you can’t make it, please leave a question here in advance. And do bear in mind the webchat guidelines - one question each only (follow-ups allowed if there’s time) and please do be polite.

Thanks
MNHQ

[Y0uCann0tBeSer10us]

I know a couple of people who might rethink their No vote (although they were 'Yessers' at heart anyway), but I think they're assuming we could rejoin the EU on the same terms we now, unlikely according to the Full fact website. Shame NS didn't respond when I asked her about that...

[SirChenjin]

Yep. NS arrived late, answered a few questions and left 25 minutes later, leaving her 'team' (ie 1 peson) to continue to spout the usual Nationalist rhetoric for a bit.

cakey - I'm a No voter as are 99% of my friends. None of us would rethink our no vote - we voted to stay within the UK, come what may. Why on earth would a indy Scotland outside the UK with an even weaker economy and the euro present a more attractive proposition? I don't see that it's more likely that the polls with shift at all.

[shitchef]

Well that was weird. So half the questions were answered by the SNP 'team'?

[cakeycakeface]

No, she won't call one until she's sure the polls are in her favour. But what no one seems to be considering, is that those polls will most likely shift if there's a Brexit. I for one would have to re-think my No vote, and everyone I know who voted No say the same. Scotland in the UK when the UK is outside Europe is an entirely different independence prospect.

[SirChenjin]

No, I completely agree - she won't actually call one until she's sure she will win she won't - but that won't stop her banging on about indy2 and making lots of noises about it to appease the Nats. She knows what the polls are saying.

[Roonerspism]

She didn't answer my question which was exactly that.

[prettybird]

That's a first!

[SirChenjin]

Agree prettybird

[prettybird]

I am pretty sure don't think that Nicola would want to call another Independence Referendum unless the polls are saying consistently that the Scottish electorate is 60:40 in favour.

[SirChenjin]

It's not as straightforward as that. There is, as usual, much posturing and nationalist rhetoric on behalf of Ms Sturgeon in order to appease her faithful. However, the polls are very clear - there is no appetite for indy2. Given that the figures make even less sense now than they did 2 years ago, and the euro would be the currency of choice, she would have an even harder time selling the prospect of an independent Scotland to that No majority - and she's fully aware of that.

[Y0uCann0tBeSer10us]

That's people in Scotland, obviously!

[Y0uCann0tBeSer10us]

Beaky more specifically a vote for Brexit with a large remain vote in Scotland will lead to Indyref2. Logically therefore, people who aren't that bothered about the EU but want to avoid Scottish independence should vote to leave the EU to reduce the difference.

[BeakyMinder]

I think we heard the main point of info, though. Which is: A vote for Brexit is a vote to break up the United Kingdom.

[PrettyDumb]

She gave the same answer several times... I don't think she really got her teeth into this...

[Mrsraypurchase]

Poorly done Ms Sturgeon.

[SirChenjin]

I completely agree Annie - I suspect that we're just one of many stops on the PR trail and that the 'Mum' in Mumsnet leads them to believe they're in for an easy time of it, therefore no research required.

[ArcheryAnnie]

Also I may have misunderstood what Nicola meant by "team". The follow-up didn't seem to last very long, which is a pity.

[ArcheryAnnie]

SirChenjin it's a very low bar to overcome! But I take your point entirely.

I still find it staggering the number of politicians who don't do their homework before coming on MN. It wouldn't take much (and indeed it hasn't taken much for me, here) to think they are doing at least a tiny bit better than some of the other showers we've had here. At the very minimum they should turn up, stay the whole time they promised, don't patronise us, answer at least one hard question, don't cut-and-paste boring rote scripts but answer like a real person, and offer some follow-up.

[SirChenjin]

What - Nicola turns up with one person, makes a half-hearted attempt to put the SNP spin on a few questions for 25 minutes, then gets him/her to stay on for an hour or so to evade or fudge further questions, and that's to be admired?

[ArcheryAnnie]

....ah, QueenStromba, I missed that!

Still, in principle at least, it's a good idea, and at the minimum means that they seem to have thought their appearance here through in advance, instead of winging it, buggering off without answering anything, and expecting us to be grateful.

[QueenStromba]

Yeah, good way to mask the fact that Nicola was only with us for 25 minutes.

[ArcheryAnnie]

I'm not a fan of the SNP (I used to be, but the hate language and aggressive jingoism that trixy mentions has put me off entirely).

However, I am a fan of the way they have handled this Q&A, with Nicola leaving a team behind to answer questions that she didn't have time to do. Other party leaders who have come on here could take a leaf from their book.

[SirChenjin]

NB - I'm aware that the SNP have not been power for 17 years although it feels like it and that other Govts are equally to blame.

[SirChenjin]

The SNP set out plans to reform Council Tax in this years election, including lifting the Council Tax freeze from April 2017

Which is not before time - given the levels of austerity and cuts to public services that have resulted in Scotland over many years as a consequence of the council tax freeze. Are we now supposed to applaud the fact that the SNP Govt has now woken up to this fact?

From this year the Scottish Government has some control of Income Tax and full powers are set to be devolved. We have set out plans to raise an extra £1.2 billion over the next five years through the changes we propose

You've had the power to raise/lower income tax by 3p in the pound for 17 years - that power has never been used. 17 years of cuts in public services which could have been avoided by the SNP Govt.

I'm aware that this is digressing from the OP however, so will read the remainder of the thread with utter fascination.

[trixymalixy]

Thank you for acknowledging my question. If only I could believe your answer. Every day I see tweets from SNP politicians using pejorative language. Many are still followers of that hate merchant wingsoverscotland. It encourages others to spew hate. It needs to stop.